‘13’ is a lucky number for Holden NZPGA Championship 2016

‘13’ is a lucky number for Holden NZPGA Championship 2016

Auckland – 4 February 2016: Organisers of the Holden NZPGA Championship (3-6 March 2016) are excited to announce they have signed 13 of the top 15 ranked New Zealand players for next month’s tournament being held at Remuera Golf Club in Auckland.

With Danny Lee and Tim Wilkinson both otherwise committed, this is the strongest field of Kiwis seen playing the PGA Championship tournament for many a year and golf fans can expect a big push by the Kiwis to find a local winner in 2016.

PGA of New Zealand CEO, Duncan Simpson said: “Our recent record in the tournament is excellent, with Steven Alker’s win at Clearwater in 2009 and Michael Hendry’s back-to-back wins in 2012 and 2013 at The Hills, and to have 13 of the top 15 New Zealand players in the field should certainly improve our chances of seeing another New Zealander lifting the trophy again this year.”

The strong New Zealand contingent will however, face stiff international competition from several quarters, including defending champion Matthew Millar from Australia. Millar won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title at Remuera last year, and played strongly throughout 2016, finishing 3rd on the Order of Merit.
He will be just one of nearly 20 hardened Australian professionals, any one of whom could take out the title, including the likes of Jordan Zunic, who had to pre-qualify for the event last year and used it as a stepping stone to winning the New Zealand Open and finishing 2nd on the Order of Merit.

A small but high quality group of Japan Tour players, including Daisuke Kataoka and Toshinori Muto, could see a second Japanese name on the trophy, the first being Jumbo Ozaki’s in 1972; Korean players Hong Soon Sang and Kim Byung Jun can’t be counted out, and there will be a European Tour presence through South African, Dylan Frittelli.”

Ryan Fox, who had an outstanding year in 2015, which included playing in his first major, the Open Championship at St Andrews, will be looking to lead the way for the Kiwis. “This is a fun event to play. Holden, the NZPGA and the Aussie Tour did a great job last year putting on the event; it has a "big" feel with good crowds and good golfers. All the pros definitely enjoy that, not to mention Auckland is a great city to come to in March.”

The inaugural winner of the Sir Bob Charles Trophy in 2015, for the highest placed New Zealander, Josh Geary, has also had an outstanding year with three wins on the PGA Tour of China, and will be looking to take it one step further after finishing tied runner up. “I'm sure I speak for all the New Zealand pros when I say it's a treat to be able to play any tour event on home soil in front of good friends, family and all other supporters. It definitely makes it more special and possibly adds a bit of pressure as all of us want to win our national titles pretty bad.”

Steven Alker makes a welcome return to home soil and as a previous Champion will be looking to put his name on the McDougall Cup once again. Alker started 2016 with a top 20 finish in the Panama Open on the Web.Com Tour, following victories on that Tour in 2013 & 2014, and his record also includes a top 20 finish in the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. He played a number of events on the PGA Tour and the Web.Com Tour in 2015, just missing out on retaining his main Tour card.

Michael Hendry will be looking to add his name to the trophy for the third time, and after his strong showings on the Japanese Tour in 2015, including a win in the Token Homemade Cup in April he is sure to be a crowd favourite once again.
NZ’s top 15 players in order of ranking at 10th January 2016.

1. Danny Lee
2. Ryan Fox
3. Josh Geary
4. Michael Hendry
5. Sean Riordan
6. Steven Alker
7. Daniel Pearce
8. David Smail
9. Tim Wilkinson
10. Gareth Paddison
11. Brand Shilton
12. Mark Brown
13. Michael Long
14. Jared Pender
15. Harry Bateman

AT A GLANCE
Holden NZPGA Championship 2016

When: 3-6 March 2016
Where: Remuera Golf Club, Auckland
Ticket entry: Tickets from $20 and free entry for kids
What: 72-hole strokeplay, PGA Tour of Australasia event
Prize purse: (NZD) $125,000
Defending champion: Matthew Millar (AUS)

ENDS

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